The old adage that 'behind every strong man there is a stronger woman' has never been more true than in the case of Lance Armstrong, six-time Tour de France winner, cancer survivor and bestselling author. Anyone who knows Lance is in no doubt about where he found his inspiration. A force of nature, his mother Linda's determination and sheer joie de vivre not only nurtured one of our era's greatest athletes, but fuelled her transformation from poverty-stricken teen to powerful role model. Kicked out of home at 17 after refusing to get an abortion, dismissed from high school for being pregnant, and trapped in an abusive relationship as an unmarried mother, Linda was a candidate for disaster. But, armed with a fierce belief in herself as a work in progress and buoyed by a tidal wave of love for her little boy, she beat the odds as a struggling single parent and, despite her lack of education, went on to become a highly successful telecommunications executive and a no-nonsense, empowering mother whose desire to excel was contagious. Her resolve to make every setback an opportunity set an extraordinary example for Lance and her remarkable story is a testament to dreaming big - and making a difference.Upbeat, determined, hard-working, loving, forgiving, funny and unsinkable, this is a woman who managed to not only overcome the odds but embrace life and enjoy it, whatever it threw at her. And the readership for this inspirational tale of triumph over adversity will extend well beyond those merely curious about Lance Armstrong. The philosophy that shines through these pages will appeal to many women, and most certainly mothers everywhere. Linda was at Lance's side throughout his treatment for cancer and they remain extremely close. His first book, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE, was dedicated to her, and he has written a moving Foreword to this remarkable book.

As any herpetologist will tell you, the fer-de-lance is among the most dreaded snakes known to man. When someone makes a present of one to Nero Wolfe, Archie Goodwin knows he's getting dreadully close to solving the devilishly clever murders of an immigrant and a college president. As for Wolfe, he's playing snake charmer in a case with more twists than an anaconda -- whistling a seductive tune he hopes will catch a killer who's still got poison in his heart.

Lance Loud came to represent the gay community, and in addition, embodied the creative spirit and genius of outsider status that became the 1980s and fuelled so much of what has evolved today in our culture in terms of art, music and literature. In 2003, PBS broadcast the program, Lance Loud: A Death in an American Family, which was filmed in 2001 while visiting the family again, at the invitation of Lance before his death at age 50. As seen here, short as Lance's life was, it was a monumental one that continues to resonate to the present day.

Welcome to future Earth. Despite repeated warnings, the environment has become polluted to such an extent that many areas of the globe have become uninhabitable, and wildlife is now extinct. From the ashes, a new style of 'wildlife' is created. Wildlife that will not remain harnessed by humankind. Mechanica is an encyclopaedia of mechanical creatures with a fictional narrative.

It is April 2004 and Mehmet Yakis is an archaeology student in Istanbul. After an earthquake fractures a wall of the Aya Sofya, he unearths a lance engraved with the words, Longinus and Dominus, along with the Roman execution record of Jesus of Nazareth. Is it possible he has found the true Lance of Longinus? After Yakis shows his find to a disillusioned French archaeologist, he has no idea that Albert Boucher intends to claim it as his own. But Yakis and Boucher have competition that includes a billionaire, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, two SS officers vying to smuggle the relic out of Turkey, and two unsuspecting tourists who turn up at the wrong place at the wrong time. As new questions arise and a race over land, sea, and in the air begins, the ancient relic becomes an obsession for everyone involved as they are left to contemplate whether it truly has miraculous power, and if so, if it is worth dying for. In this historical thriller, a diverse group of relic hunters each embark on their own dangerous journeyto possess the Roman lance that pierced Jesus’ side.

One of "The Most Fascinating Books WIRED Read in 2020" "One part science book, one part historical narrative, one part memoir . . . harrowing and inspiring.”—The Wall Street Journal How a determined scientist cracked the case of the first successful—and disastrous—submarine attack On the night of February 17, 1864, the tiny Confederate submarine HL Hunley made its way toward the USS Housatonic just outside Charleston harbor. Within a matter of hours, the Union ship’s stern was blown open in a spray of wood planks. The explosion sank the ship, killing many of its crew. And the submarine, the first ever to be successful in combat, disappeared without a trace. For 131 years the eight-man crew of the HL Hunley lay in their watery graves, undiscovered. When finally raised, the narrow metal vessel revealed a puzzling sight. There was no indication the blast had breached the hull, and all eight men were still seated at their stations—frozen in time after more than a century. Why did it sink? Why did the men die? Archaeologists and conservationists have been studying the boat and the remains for years, and now one woman has the answers. In the Waves is much more than just a military perspective or a technical account. It’s also the story of Rachel Lance’s single-minded obsession spanning three years, the story of the extreme highs and lows in her quest to find all the puzzle pieces of the Hunley. Balancing a gripping historical tale and original research with a personal story of professional and private obstacles, In the Waves is an enthralling look at a unique part of the Civil War and the lengths one scientist will go to uncover its secrets.

Years after the Historian wanders away from Surac, the people use the power of their Stones to craft a golden age for themselves. As they expand and explore, however, they find that some secrets are better left alone, and not all powers are benevolent. Sadavir, the hero who brought the peoples together, travels into new territory on a rescue mission. Everyone, including Sadavir himself, believes that his talents, training, and powers make him invulnerable to harm. But there are mysteries more ancient than the Stones, and weaknesses that aren't discovered until strength has failed.